After you graduate university you continue to ‘learn on the job’ in your early post-graduate years and consolidate all your academic learning in university. These are your ‘prevocational years’ i.e the period between graduating and transitioning to specialty training.
Prevocational Training
The new National Framework for Prevocational Training sets a national standard to support a formalised training program for the first two years after graduation. This is to ensure you get the best learning experiences across a range of settings to ensure a more supported transition to your medical career.
- You will complete paid positions as an intern, junior house officer and senior house officer, respectively, where you will do rotations that will expose you to different specialties.
- Queensland Health also offers principal house officer roles, which are generally within a specific specialty. These roles are for those who are not on a college-accredited vocational training program.
Registrar/Specialty Vocational Training
- Vocational training starts once you’ve decided on the specialty you want to pursue and have successfully gained a place on a training program.
- This training is managed by the respective medical specialty colleges, and will have you work in a job as a registrar as you follow the requirements of the college’s program.
Once you have completed your college requirements, you can be awarded a fellowship of the college and then work independently as a specialist in that field.